Author Archives: Dr. Hawkins

Everything You Need to Know About Ear Candles

  I just had a patient ask me about ear candles the other day, so I think this topic is worth revisiting. Ear candling is an alternative health treatment advocated for ear wax removal.   A lighted,  hollow candle made … Continue reading

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Listen up: MP3 players may be harmful to your hearing

 Today’s relatively inexpensive and convenient MP3 players allow users to listen to music virtually around the clock.  People, of course, have been listening to music players of various types for decades. One key difference is that today’s players work for … Continue reading

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10 Tips for Better Hearing This Holiday Season

    With the holidays upon us, you may find yourself in groups where hearing may be difficult.  Here are some tips to help make things a bit easier:   Reduce the clatter of dishes and silverware by using tablecloths or … Continue reading

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Watch Out For These Noisy Toys

 December is the biggest toy-buying month of the year. Unfortunately, many well-intentioned parents may be purchasing potentially harmful toys for their children. Any sound above 85 decibels (dB) can cause hearing loss over time. The danger with noisy toys is … Continue reading

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Why Are Certain Sounds Annoying?

 I’m currently reading a fascinating book, “Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us” by Joe Palca and Flora Lichtman. The two science journalists take a look at the literature in various disciplines (psychology, evolutionary biology, anthropology and others) to try … Continue reading

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Hearing Aids & Cell Phones

 If you wear hearing aids, you may experience audible interference when using a digital wireless telephone due to radio frequency (RF) emissions from the phone, regardless of whether the microphone or telecoil settings on the hearing aids are used. As … Continue reading

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Baby Boomer Men & Women in Denial About Hearing Loss

 A new survey finds that Baby Boomers think their hearing is just fine, thank you. The children of those same folks, however, think mom and dad should be checked out for a hearing aid. Siemens Hearing Instruments in a recent survey of … Continue reading

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Florida Manatees: Silent Danger

 The endangered Florida manatee, Florida’s state marine mammal, is a large aquatic relative of the elephant. Manatees can be found in the warm waters of shallow rivers, bays, estuaries and coastal waters. Rarely do individuals venture into waters that are … Continue reading

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Dental Fillings & Hearing Loss

  Rothwell and Boyd (2008) evaluated hearing thresholds and amalgam dental fillings across 39 non-smoking women, ages 40 to 45 years. When non-amalgam fillings were used, there was no correlation between fillings and hearing thresholds. However, in those with amalgam … Continue reading

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